Nine has informed staff of a "handful" of redundancies as it rejigs digital platform nine.com.au.
The changes were revealed in an email from Kerri Elstub, Nine’s digital editorial director, to staff, saying the company is looking to change its structure and focus to grow the digital platform.
“We need to better reflect our TV counterparts in the key pillars of news, sport, entertainment and lifestyle, as well as leveraging Nine’s powerful brands,” Elstub says.
Elstub noted that while 9News and Wide World of Sport have been successfully aligned across broadcast and digital, Nine now needs to bring this integration across its “top-rating shows” such as The Block and Married at First Sight, along with its flagship news and current affairs programs.
“Unfortunately, these changes have led to a handful of redundancies across the verticals,” Elstub says.
As part of the new structure, the team behind its tentpole entertainment shows will be moving under the nine.com.au umbrella. It will also seek to support Nine’s wider digital ecosystem including Stan, 9Now, Domain and Car Advice.
“As part of the changes, we will be streamlining and simplifying our brands to ensure clarity to the millions of Australians who read our site every month,” Elstub says.
9Honey will continue to focus on the royals, celebrity and lifestyle news, while its sub brands will be simplified. For example, 9Honey Coach will become a Health section of 9Honey, as will food, travel and style. The stand-alone vertical 9Finance will fold into a section of 9News.
A Nine spokesperson says there are no further redundancies planned.
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